Agenda

*Schedule is subject to change.

Favorites

Session Format

Speaker

Date

October 06, 2025, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. MT

Espresso Bar Open

Presented by Brinkmann Constructors.

Add To Calendar  

October 06, 2025, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. MT

Registration Open

Registration Open

Co-presented by Global Roofing Group and Johns Manville. 

Add To Calendar  

October 06, 2025, 12:45 p.m. - 4 p.m. MT

[Tour] Glendale Insider Tour: Class A Industrial & State Farm Stadium

Ticketed Event

Bus departs 12:55 p.m.
Ticket Event: $125 USD/$169 CAD

Tour VT 101, a 48-acre Class A industrial park developed by VanTrust, adjacent to Glendale’s sports and entertainment district. Phase 1 includes two buildings totaling just over 300,000 SF, with 36’ clear heights, full HVAC and LED lighting, ample dock and grade-level doors and 3,374 SF spec office suites, built for modern logistics, distribution and plug and play operations. Then go behind the scenes at State Farm Stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals and Super Bowl LVII. Explore the press box, NFL visiting team locker room, stadium floor and more, including North America’s first retractable natural grass field. A rare look at innovation, scale and design excellence.

Lunch is not provided, it is recommended tour participants eat lunch on their own prior to their tour. Tour does not feature cold storage facilities.

Add To Calendar  

October 06, 2025, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. MT

[Tour] Next-Generation Class A Industrial: The Brickyards

Ticketed Event

Bus departs at 1:10 p.m.
Ticket Event: $125 USD/$169 CAD

Discover how Class A industrial is being delivered at scale in Mesa’s Gateway Airport corridor, unpacking the design, execution and challenges driving one of Arizona’s fastest-growing industrial hubs. The Brickyards spans seven buildings and 600,000 square feet, master-planned to deliver speed-to-market, flexible footprints and diverse use options. Built by FCL Builders for Martens Development, with CBRE as broker and Ware Malcomb as architect, the project is redefining Class A industrial in a high-growth submarket. With an eighth building set to break ground soon, the park highlights how developers are meeting tenant demand with adaptable building sizes and next-generation industrial design.

Lunch is not provided, it is recommended tour participants eat lunch on their own prior to their tour. Tour does not feature cold storage facilities.

Add To Calendar  

October 06, 2025, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. MT

Business Relationship Gardening

In any industry, the ability to develop internal and external business relationships is important. In commercial real estate, it’s an absolute necessity. Join Cassie Wells, owner of Modern Business Development, as she guides us through the Business Relationship Gardening Method . Using this proven process, Wells has defined the stages required to help users build lasting business relationships that bring them recurring business. Wells doesn’t just define Business Development; she brings it to life offering useful tips and tricks to help you “harvest” success! If your 2026 goals include revenue growth, you won't want to miss this!

Speaker
Speaker Image
Cassie Wells
CEO, Modern Business Development

Add To Calendar  

October 06, 2025, 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. MT

Exhibits Open

Networking Event

Add To Calendar  

October 06, 2025, 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. MT

Onsite Welcome Reception in Exhibits

Networking Event

Presented by FCL Builders.

Co-presented by Brinkmann Constructors, Primus Builders, WDS Construction, CenterPoint Properties and Metl-Span, a Nucor Company.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. MT

Espresso Bar Open

Presented by Brinkmann Constructors.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. MT

Registration Open

Co-presented by Global Roofing Group and Johns Manville.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. MT

Exhibits Open

Networking Event

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. MT

Breakfast Buffet and Keynote: Leadership, Risk and Reward with Kevin Lacz

Kevin Lacz
Former Navy Seal | New York Times Bestselling Author | Co-Star of American Sniper

Kevin Lacz is a decorated former U.S. Navy SEAL who enlisted following the 9/11 attacks, completed BUD/S training, and served two combat tours with SEAL Team THREE Task Unit Bruiser, earning a Bronze Star with combat “V” and multiple Navy and Marine Corps Medals. After his honorable discharge in 2010, he returned to academics, including earning a Master of Medical Science from Wake Forest University. Shifting to the civilian sector, Lacz cofounded a functional medicine practice, served as a SEAL technical advisor (and portrayed himself) in the Oscar winning film American Sniper, and authored the New York Times bestselling memoir The Last Punisher. He cofounded the charity Hunting for Healing.

Keynote Speaker
Speaker Image
Kevin Lacz
Former Navy Seal | New York Times Bestselling Author | Co-Star of American Sniper,

Keynote session co-presented by Bohler and Colliers.

Breakfast buffet co-presented by Griffco Design/Build, Inc., Interstate Cold Storage and Menard USA.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 9:50 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. MT

Core Session: Cold Storage Market and Investment Outlook

As global trade dynamics, food production patterns and technology adoption continue to reshape cold storage, investors and developers face new questions about where – and how – to deploy capital. This session will offer a forward-looking view of the sector, exploring key market forces from tariff impacts and public refrigerated warehouses (PRW) inventory levels to investor sentiment, stock performance and debt availability. Panelists will share what’s changed over the past year, how strategies differ across capital sources, and which asset-level features are driving deal decisions today.

Moderator
Speaker Image
Sean Gilbert
Principal, Saxum Real Estate
Panelist
Speaker Image
Ryan Murphy
Managing Director, Lazard Freres & Co. LLC

Presented by Williams Company, Choate Construction Company and Green Span Profiles.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 9:50 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. MT

Focus Session: Designing Cold – Optimal Layouts, Flow and Functionality

Leverage smart design strategies to future-proof your cold storage asset for evolving user needs and automation readiness

Moderator
Speaker Image
Tanya Dalton
Project Manager, Metl-Fab, Inc.
Panelist
Speaker Image
Kate Lyle, NCARB
Principal, Lamar Johnson Collaborative

Presented by Williams Company, Choate Construction Company and Green Span Profiles.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 10:40 a.m. - 11:10 a.m. MT

Networking Break in Exhibits

Networking Event

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 11:10 a.m. - 12 p.m. MT

Core Session: Building Cold, Bridging Gaps: What Developers and Contractors Need to Know

Cold storage construction is unlike any other type of build – and success depends on early, clear communication between developers and contractors. This session brings both sides to the table, with experienced professionals sharing what they wish the other group better understood. Hear key insights from both perspectives, including how the industry has evolved, current innovations, and the unique challenges of cold storage projects. Learn how stronger collaboration can prevent costly missteps and lead to more efficient, high-performance facilities.

Moderator
Speaker Image
Luke Waite
Senior Project Manager, FREEZ Construction
Panelists
Speaker Image
Tyler Cushman
Senior Development Manager, RL Cold
Speaker Image
Kieran Flanagan, LEED AP
Principal - Development/Construction, Saxum Real Estate
Speaker Image
Scott Guimond
Vice President, Fisher Construction Group, Inc.
Speaker Image
Matt Hirsch
President, Primus Builders, Inc.

Presented by NDustrial, Albany and Orion.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 12 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. MT

Networking Lunch Buffet

Networking Event

Co-presented by BGO, Greek Design | Build and Ware Malcomb.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 1:15 p.m. - 2 p.m. MT

Core Session: Cold Storage, Hot Takes: Myth-busting in a Shifting Market

The cold storage sector is evolving, bringing fresh challenges and exciting opportunities. Shifting tenant demand, advancing regulations and a focus on energy efficiency and automation are driving innovation in operations and performance. This session will unpack key trends, from regulatory shifts like refrigerant phase-outs to operational advancements, and provide practical insights to help developers, investors and operators navigate the market and capitalize on growth in a dynamic cold chain landscape. Gain candid insights into what’s real, what’s outdated and what’s next in cold chain strategy.

Moderator
Speaker Image
Greg Camp
Vice President, FCL Builders
Panelists
Speaker Image
Brian Hinkle
Microgrid Project Development, Schneider Electric
Speaker Image
Kurt Liebendorfer
Vice President, Evapco, Inc.

Presented by DEEM, LLC and McShane Construction.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 1:15 p.m. - 2 p.m. MT

Focus Session: Retrofitting Existing Industrial Assets for Cold Storage Use

Discover the challenges and opportunities in converting dry warehouses into cold storage.

Speaker
Speaker Image
Vince Free
President and CEO, FREEZ Construction, LLC

Presented by DEEM, LLC and McShane Construction.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 2:15 p.m. - 3 p.m. MT

Core Session: Speculative Cold Storage Builds: Risk, Reward and Demand Forecasting

Speculative cold storage development surged during the pandemic but has since entered a more cautious phase. This session will explore the economics and strategy behind building on spec, from how the model began to where it’s headed over the next few years. Panelists will examine current projects in the pipeline, evolving tenant demand and the shifting criteria for underwriting and appraising speculative facilities. Learn how developers are adjusting to new market realities and where opportunities still exist in this capital-intensive, high-stakes asset class.

Panelists
Speaker Image
Jake Finley
Founder & CEO, Karis Cold
Speaker Image
Peter Lamas, MAI
Senior Managing Director, National Valuation Consultants
Speaker Image
Kevin Rivest
Managing Partner, Head of U.S. Cold Storage, BentallGreenOak

Presented by Dispatch Energy and Westmount Realty Capital, LLC.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 2:15 p.m. - 3 p.m. MT

Focus Session: Federal Policy and Tariffs Shaping Cold Chain Infrastructure

Join Aquiles Suarez, NAIOP’s Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, for this session that will cover legislative policy changes related to taxation, tariffs, logistics chains and other topics that impact the cold storage industry.

Speaker
Speaker Image
Aquiles Suarez
Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, NAIOP

Presented by Dispatch Energy and Westmount Realty Capital, LLC.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. MT

Final Chill Happy Hour

Networking Event

Wrap up the conference with a final round of drinks and conversation. This is your last chance to reconnect with peers, meet new contacts and follow up on the ideas and insights shared at I.CON Cold Storage 2025. Whether you're solidifying a new partnership or just swapping stories over a cold one, don’t miss this laid-back networking finale.

Co-presented by Ti Cold, KARIS Cold, Stellar, Power Construction – Cold+Food Group , A&E Construction Co. and RealCold.

Add To Calendar  

October 07, 2025, 8 p.m. - October 08, 2025, 12 a.m. MT

An Evening at Palma Hosted by Saxum Real Estate

Ticketed Event
Networking Event

903 N 2nd Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004

Wrap up I.CON Storage at Saxum’s signature gathering at Palma. Enjoy an evening of flowing cocktails, meaningful conversations and an ambiance thoughtfully curated to bring people together. Indulge in light hors d’oeuvres, hand-selected music and great company.

 

RSVP by Sept. 8

*Please note that this is a sponsor-hosted party and is not officially part of the NAIOP I.CON Cold Storage conference and is not sponsored by NAIOP.

Add To Calendar  

Back to Top